Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh, in southern Rajasthan, grew around the mighty Chittor Fort, one of India’s largest hill forts and the old capital of Mewar. The site was originally called Chitrakut and is traditionally attributed to the Mori ruler Chitrangada Mori, before being taken over around the 8th century by the Guhila (later Sisodia) Rajputs, for whom it became the political and cultural heart of their kingdom. Through the Middle Ages, Chittorgarh symbolised Rajput independence and therefore faced repeated attacks. In 1303, Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate captured the fort after a long siege, leading to the first famous jauhar of its Rajput women. A second jauhar followed the 1535 siege by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, and a third occurred when Mughal emperor Akbar besieged and took Chittorgarh in 1567–68, after which much of the fort was devastated. Despite political decline, Chittorgarh remained a powerful symbol of Mewar’s honour, with monuments like the Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh, numerous palaces and temples. In modern times, the city surrounding the hill expanded as a district headquarters, while the fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as part of the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan.”